Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

[Saxman]

I have been through all the checkes and finally narrowed it down to what might be the neutral safety switch.

I am new to boats so I do not know exactly what is the "switch", but when I was looking round the back of the controller for the NSS (I'll call it), I found a small black box with two wires leading in and out of it. One wire came in form the ignition and the other went off to the engine. It was an inch or so away from anything on the controller, but I don't know if it should be pougged in or just in a certain position.

I put a wire across the in/out wires and the boat would start - both in neutral and in gear.

So, I assume this is the NSS. I see where this box once sat alongside the controller, but I can't tell if it plugged in or what. I am stumped and going crazy from laying upside down screwing with this thing.

Does it have a sensor that needs to be plugged into the controller or does it have to be against something to sense the position?

Can anyone offer some help on this one? I would obviously like to keep the NSS operative.

The boat is an '89 Raven with a 5.7 Merc.

All help will be greatly appreciated and most likely prevent a major stroke on my part.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Here is what the black box looks like. I don't see any part that anything other that the two wires can plug into...

Also, is there a way to test this part once it is removed?

Thanks again!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

It is just a micro switch that gets actuated when in neutral.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Thanks.

Since the switch is just hanging there, I now know that I can just push the button on the switch to start the boat, but I do not see what part of the controller actually pushes that button.

I imagine there must be a place for that NSS to fit in, but I don't see it.

Anyone have pics or advice?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

All controllers are built a little different. If you have a picture of the back of the controller, it might be possible for others to make suggestions.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

That's a tough one considering the lack of space back there, but I'm sure I can get something to show up.

I'll post a shot or two tomorrow.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

The micro switch should have a small metal flap that sits on top of the button on the switch itself. The switch would have been mounted where some part of the control's linkage would press against this metal flap when the control is in neutral, pressing the button and "closing" or turning on the switch.

Normally there are two holes that pass through the switch body. Small screws would have been used in these holes to mount the switch. Look closely at the area where you found the switch hanging. you should find holes that match the holes in the switch. When you find them simply hold the switch up to them and move the control lever and you should see what presses the switch closed. Get some new screws and remount the switch.

If the boat will start when you manually close the switch, the switch is working, no need to test it. It just needs to be remounted in it's position.

The little metal tab I mentioned is bad about falling off. So if it is not evident on the switch than you need a new one. You can get it at a marine parts supply. see below,

This switch is different from yours. See the long metal tab? Your's may be shorter than this one but it will look similar. If the tab is gone look for it lying in a place where you cannot possibly get to it. That's where they normally go.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Thanks, Drewpster! I'll look for it today.

Maybe a magnet will be the way to go to get it out of there.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Any controller I've ever seen has the micro switch inside, not hanging out from the back. I don't think you've got any choice but to remove the control and take it apart from the back side. Have a look at this link, it shows an exploded view of a side mount controller (not the best quality), item # 48 is the neutral switch. There are other controllers there too, maybe you can find yours?


Side Mount Control

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Any controller I've ever seen has the micro switch inside, not hanging out from the back. I don't think you've got any choice but to remove the control and take it apart from the back side. Have a look at this link, it shows an exploded view of a side mount controller (not the best quality), item # 48 is the neutral switch. There are other controllers there too, maybe you can find yours?


Side Mount Control

Thanks, Bob. I guess they don't call it a "neutral" safety switch there - jsut a safety switch.

Now I have to get in there and figure out how to get the panel off the inside of the boat to get a good look back there. I have padded panels on top of the main panel so it's time to find out how it is put together.

More questions to come!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

There are only two ways this switch can mount. It has two holes in it so it could be screwed to the controller. It could also be installed in a cavity shaped like the switch, inside the controller. Either way, it must be positioned so the button is pushed only when the control lever is in neutral. It would appear to me that for that to happen the switch needs to be inside the controller, unless this is a binnacle mount in which case it still needs to be mounted so the shift cable mechanism activates the switch only in neutral. Since we can't see your controller and have no idea what brand it is it's difficult to provide any other advice.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

I do see two plastic pressure tabs that the switch can fit into, but I can't see anything in that area that moves when it goes into neutral.

I'll see if I can get the panel pulled away from the boat for a better look.

I'm going to go snap a few pics now.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

OK - I took some shots. It's a HI-LEX controller - wall mount.

One pic is of the wires behind the contoller. You can see the neutral safety switch hanging out at the bottom of the pic.

I still need to figure out how to pull the wall away from the boat to get back there, but it is starting to rain here.

Thanks again for any help.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Once you pul the controller off, its probably going to be obvious where it goes. The screws that hold it on must have worked there way loose.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Looking at the side of it, the only screw hole looks a bit like the screw was sheared off.

I guess considering that I have to reach under there and push the button on the switch, I will always have a way to remember to put her in neutral.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

I would strongly suggest fixing this instead of doing what you are describing. This should be very easily fixed. I had my controller out today because I forgot to replace a screw holding down a cable. Yours is 10 times easier to get out than mine.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

From the pic I posted, do you know how to remove blue panel so I can get to the back of the controller?

I'm hoping someone says that panel just snaps off, but I have the feeling that it is bolted on. Time to get back on my head and get under there.

Of course, we are getting a lot of rain today, so it will have to wait for dryer weather.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

I don't think your going to be that lucky, I know on my 1984 Tempest a similar panel was screwed on and I had to use an offset screwdriver to get the 4 screws out, a very long slow painful process. It's also possiblr they have studs mounted in the panel that have nuts on the other side. You'll have to reach up and let your fingers do the walking and see what you can feel...good luck!

 

[burroak]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Am I missing something here, does Merc have a site with blown up schematics for what it sells? I guess I'm just spoiled with the BRP website. You've just about solved the problem if you can look at an exploded view of the controller.

 

[Saxman]

Re: Neutral Safety Switch? Please help!

Boating Bob left a link above to the exploded view of a similar controller, but I can't tell where the switch it fits because it is shown away from the controller.

I'll work on getting behind that panel when I get back from Florida on Friday. I hope it's dryer down there. I have some golfing to do!